NBBC Summer Family Week - Ephesians 4:28
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Friends, it’s been so good to be together this week. We’ve looked at how the Spirit makes our times together great and He makes us want to be together. We’ve also looked at the fact that we want to be together because we have so much in common in being believers. Tonight and tomorrow night, I want for us to look at ways that we encourage our unity with one another through how we act and what we say.
Ephesians 4:28 “28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.”
What does it mean to steal?
To take something that does not belong to you.
Does God like stealing?
No!
He hates it and has warned against stealing in the 10 Commandments (cf. the 8th Commandment; Exodus 20:15)
Friends, you can steal someone’s attention at school away from the teacher.
You can steal time away from your parents when you do something other than what they’ve told you to do.
There are 2 things that a thief must do instead of stealing.
Stop stealing!
They must labor, or work!
Paul talks about how we are to undertake our work in the next statement; what should characterize our work?
With our own hands.
You yourself are doing this work.
You’re not trying to force someone else to do the work that you should do.
Not only are we to work with our own hands but we’re also to do What is good.
For something to be good, Paul is referring to how the work that one does should be both helpful and beneficial.
This could be finishing a chore that your parents have asked you to do.
Incomplete work means there’s still work to do.
Share from what we have received as a result of our good work that we have done with our own hands!
Share with who?
Others who have needs.
Is there ever anyone who does not need anything?
No!
Therefore, there’s always an opportunity to share with someone who has a need.
This means that the Lord will give you opportunities to be able to share what you have with others.
It might be that you have a friend at church who you learn of a true need that they have and you just so happen to have some money in your pocket that you can share with them.
Maybe you have some extra food for lunch that you can share with a friend at school.
Regardless, we should always be asking the Lord to give us what we need to generously share with others and the wisdom to determine who has a need and what to share with them.
Example: friends, I have you seen generosity among our group.
During Kids’ Club this Spring, Axton could not make it one night on account of being sick.
Colton asked about getting a piece of candy for Axton.
I suggested that Colton give Axton one of the pieces of candy he earned, and he did!
Friends, not only does the Lord enable us to be generous but He is making you generous!
Friends, I want you to think for a moment: why would God tell us that we need to be generous?
I believe that it relates to God’s character!
The word “share” comes from the same word that means “to give”.
What is it that God has given to us?
Salvation from our sins through Jesus, Ephesians 2:8-9.
Did God have to do this?
No!
He chose to do this!
We want to be generous because God has been so generous to us in Jesus!
Friends, it is my hope that when seeing God’s generosity in Jesus, that you want it to.
Friends, Jesus died to forgive our sins and lives to give us new life in Him through the Spirit.
Please talk with your parents, Pastor Chad, or myself if you have not made this decision yet.
Conclusion: Friends and family, let’s be generous with all the things that God gives to us by sharing with others who have a need that God helps us to understand that we can help with.
